Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has reviewed the EU's comprehensive new energy measures that were announced on 10 January 2007; if he will seek to adopt the key targets including that 20% of the EU's entire energy mix be comprised of renewable energy by 2020, a binding minimum biofuels target of 10% for 2020 and a 20% saving in energy efficiency by 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5271/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The Commission's communication, An Energy Policy for Europe, published in January 2007, will be formally presented to the Council of Energy Ministers in Brussels tomorrow (Thursday 15th February). I have welcomed the Commission's review and supporting Action Plan as well as reaffirming the Government's support for the setting of ambitious targets for renewable energy, biofuels and energy efficiency.

Shane McEntee (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has received a study due for completion by January 2007 on foot of the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 424 of 21 November 2006; his plans to progress this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5457/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The study to which the Deputy's question refers will be completed shortly. The consultants engaged by my Department have submitted a draft of the study, which is currently being examined by the steering committee appointed to monitor its progress.

The steering committee, which includes officials from my Department with relevant technical and economic expertise, has met with the consultants on an ongoing basis to ensure that the study meets the requirements specified by my Department. The committee is scheduled to meet with the consultants shortly to progress its completion.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 175: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will report on the energy efficiency Power of One campaign; the amount that has been spent on the campaign to date; the way he will invigilate the programme and measure the concrete gains that have been achieved in energy efficiency; the other measures he will introduce to accompany the present public relations campaign; if he will implement any of the measures from the new ambitious 75 step programme to tackle energy inefficiency and increase energy awareness and conservation across the EU that was recently brought forward by Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5269/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Europe presented by the Commission last October sets out a comprehensive range of proposed policies and measures aimed at realising at least 20% savings in EU energy consumption by 2020. The overall thrust of the Plan was endorsed by EU Energy Ministers in November last.

The objective is to deliver for Europe energy efficient infrastructure, buildings, appliances, processes, transport and energy systems. Energy efficiency has the potential to be the most effective and economical means of delivering on the challenge of reducing Europe's dependence on energy imports, reducing energy demand and reducing CO2 emissions. The Plan sets out 10 priority actions for transport, built environment power generation, economic sectors and individual consumers. The actions are underpinned by a programme of 57 measures which the Commission will progressively propose to Council and Parliament up to 2012.

It is essential that we have effective synergies between National Energy Efficiency Action Plans and action at European level. I have made clear that Ireland's ambitious approach to energy efficiency will fully reflect and underpin the comprehensive European Action Plan. An Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Ireland is being finalised by my Department working with SEI and other relevant Government Departments. I intend to publish the Plan for consultation in April.

I launched the national energy efficiency awareness campaign, the Power of One, in September 2006. The campaign involves: Building awareness of the types and sources of energy we use; raising awareness of the impact of inefficient use of energy in terms of increased costs to the user, the economy and the environment; informing and empowering the general public on best practices in terms of saving energy at home and at work; targeting individual sectors (e.g. industry, SMEs, schools, the public sector, the transport sector) with specific energy saving strategies; and building on existing programmes and initiatives on the island of Ireland and taking full account of EU developments.

To date €3 million has been spent on the campaign which includes the development of 8 television commercials last autumn which are airing up to June of this year, 7 radio advertisements running over the same period, an extensive press campaign to complement TV and radio, an on-line presence through www.powerofone.ie, media space and consultancy fees, as well as regional and sectoral modules. The campaign has also benefited from the involvement of EirGrid as well as ESB, BGE and other energy suppliers.

The reach of the Power of One campaign has been very significant with follow up research showing the television advertisements airing a total of 3,298 times with 84% of all individuals having seen the ads at least 5 times and the average frequency being almost 20 times. Similarly, follow up research shows the radio message has been heard at least 5 times by 81% of all individuals, average frequency being up to 23 times. Tailored energy efficiency messages in the national press have reached almost 2.5 million people with a further 1.5 million in the consumer press. The outdoor campaign has been seen by 948,000 individuals with advertisements featuring in 190 sites across the country. The Power of One message has also been seen by over 2 million people in cinemas nationwide. The dedicated website www.powerofone.ie has been visited by over 35,000 people and over 25,000 information packs have been despatched from our mailing centre. The majority of the population has been exposed to sustained energy efficiency messages and advice over the past 5 months.

I will shortly be launching Power of One Street which will track the energy usage of 8 families from all over the country. Each month the participants will be set a challenge to improve their energy efficiency and their progress will be monitored and reported on over the next 6 months. This initiative will drive home to everyone the simple changes that can be made to improve their energy efficiency and save on energy costs. Progress of the Power of One Street will be featured in media nationwide throughout the coming months.

As a key benchmark for the impact of the campaign, a quantitative questionnaire was developed at the inception of the initiative. This is designed to track attitudes and awareness to energy efficiency. This questionnaire was included in a nation wide study of 1,095 adults conducted across 60 sampling points around the country. Quotas are set on gender, age, social class and region to ensure it correctly reflects the demographics of the population. The next phase of this survey begins in the coming weeks and will be run again in July and October this year and in February and June 2008. The objective is to benchmark the overall awareness of the Power of One campaign and of energy efficiency and to generally measure the impact the campaign is having on individuals across society. Work is also underway to develop and enhance metrics for energy usage by consumers, large industry and SMEs.

Ongoing monitoring and measurements of energy demand undertaken by EirGrid and data collected by SEI will inform ongoing quantification of energy demand reduction. One useful immediate indicator of the effectiveness of an awareness campaign was the RTE radio programme, Mooney Show in association with the Power of One and EirGrid on Friday 19th January last. This programme featured intensive, practical and informative coverage on energy conservation, the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and demand management issues including avoiding the electricity rush hour (5-7pm) and more efficient lighting. EirGrid has advised that there was a noticeable flattening of demand, during the programme, amounting to approximately 3 megawatts which is the equivalent of 30,000 people all switching off one average 100-watt light bulb.

Energy Efficiency and energy saving strategies are a key priority for the Government and this will be reflected in the forthcoming White Paper on Energy Policy which will be underpinned by the National Action Plan on Energy Efficiency.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that developments to date in the energy sector are insufficient to meet required targets in terms of energy self-sufficiency here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5411/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I am not aware that Ireland is subject to any targets for energy self-sufficiency. According to figures published by Sustainable Energy Ireland, in 2005 Ireland was dependent on imports for 90% of its energy needs. This reflects the fact that while it is estimated that there are significant hydrocarbon reserves offshore Ireland that there have only been four commercial discoveries to date.

Notwithstanding this situation, the Government is pursuing a range of policies which will maximise our energy self-sufficiency to the greatest practical extent. We will reach our target of 15% of electricity from renewable energy by 2010 and have proposed a 30% target for 2020. The recent construction of two new peat fired power stations will ensure continued use of peat in our fuel mix until 2020 at least. When Corrib gas comes to market it will meet a large proportion of our needs for some time, but in the longer run we are likely to remain reliant on gas imports in the absence of further significant discoveries of gas offshore.

Oil accounted for 57% of our energy needs in 2005, primarily for the transport and heat sectors. In this context the Government has introduced supports designed to encourage the use of renewable energy and Combined Heat and Power at the domestic and commercial level, and we are making good progress with the development of biofuels for transport, aiming to meet our target of 5.75% by 2010.

While the Government will continue to develop policies and actions aimed at increasing our security of supply, it would not be realistic to expect that Ireland would become totally energy self-sufficient in the foreseeable future. However, the actions described here will lead to increased fuel diversity using domestically available fuel and energy sources.